Artificial Grass Supplier in Ireland

Artificial grass is the correct name for astroturf, however because of the dominance of the brand astroturf artificial grass is commonly referred to in that way.  It feels like artificial grass has been around forever, and for those under 40 that is likely the case.  However astroturf was only invented in 1965 and patented in 1967.  It, like many other modern inventions, has changed our life.

Artificial grass can often be a better solution than grass when the natural environment is  hostile to natural grass. For example too much rain, which as we know happens a lot in Ireland.  Artificial turf can withstand significantly more use than natural grass and can therefore be used much more frequently. This allows sports ground owners to generate more income from their facilities – this caters well to the large and growing demand for 5 a side pitches and tennis courts in and around Dublin.

It is also ideal for holiday homes when maintenance of lawns is not practical. In the US it is also being used as a solution for elderly homeowners who find the upkeep of lawns too much hard work. It is suitable for roof gardens and swimming pool surrounds.  Some artificial turf systems allow for the integration of fiber-optic fibers into the turf. This would allow for lighting or advertisements to be directly embedded in a playing surface, or runway lighting to be embedded in artificial landing surfaces for aircraft.

The artificial grass we play on today though is much better than 10 or 20 years ago.  It now has thick rubber padding and a better short pile synthetic turf, often non-slip in rain and for many tennis courts.

There are also some downsides to astroturf. Abrasion injuries caused by artificial turf have been linked to a higher incidence of MRSA infections.  Some artificial turf requires infill such as silicon sand and/or granulated rubber made from recycled car tires. This material may carry heavy metals which can leach into the water table. There have been some campaigns in the US to have this type of artificial grass banned.

Periodic disinfection is required as pathogens are not broken down by natural processes in the same manner as natural turf. Despite this, recent studies suggest certain microbial life is less active.  Friction between skin and artificial turf causes abrasions an or burns to a much greater extent than natural grass.   This is an issue for some sports: for example, football in which sliding maneuvers are common and clothing does not fully cover the legs and arms. However, with some third-generation artificial grasses, this is almost completely eliminated by the use of polyethylene yarn.  Artificial turf tends to be much hotter than natural grass when exposed to the sun.

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